Flashlights 101: Emitter Swapping a Flashlight

NOTE! : I made a newer version of this video, which can be found here: • Flashlights 101 - Emit...
Original description follows:
Take a look at the entire process of swapping a Nichia 219b into a JetBeam RRT01. We'll start with the unmodified light and show every step along the way. I'll also give you tips to make the process easier as well as show you the tools to use.

[@balicus7]

Thank you for taking the time to show this when no one else does!

[@LiquidRetro]

Very long, but good tutorial. I need to attempt this with mine, it would make me carry the light much more often.

[@bozilla9975]

Very helpful video. One thing I'd like to point out is finger grease getting on the LED dome. For a low powered one it might not matter but if you have an emitter like XHP70.2 with 30 some watts of thermal output and you touch the dome it might smoke.

[@koningklootzak7788]

Low or high doesn't matter, it's the difference of being professional or amateurish.

[@multimargejta123]

Tip : Add a flux so that you can easily remove LED, also you can use wider soldering tip for better heat transfer

[@cheule]

Great points

[@pauldanielmooney]

Great so far. I’ve only watched to the 38 minute mark. Noob question (in all respects): you globed on the solder past all on the underside of the emitter. What looks like from the positive end to the negative end. If the paste is conductive doesn’t that just make a short circuit? If the paste is not conductive, doesn’t that insulate the emitter from any electricity passing through rendering it useless?

[@cheule]

When the emitter heats up, the solder flux sucks into place. Keep watching and you’ll see.

[@russsmith9042]

The laser on your temp gun gets you in the general area if the laser is below the actual sensor that does the reading you have to aim low. If they laser is above the sensor, you have 41:18 to aim high. Hope that makes sense.

[@beretta89200]

Man this really makes me want to start emitter swapping

[@cheule]

You should! It’s really not very hard at all. Here is another (more updated) swap video I made: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6W6ZaBqap10Zsk

[@wcsoblake85]

Cool video man! Thanks for sharing. I have some really good flashlights that need an emitter upgrade.

[@speedbrknek]

That’s some pretty work. Thanks for the lesson.

[@cheule]

Let me know how your swaps go!

[@67daffy]

I have this light but very unsteady hands so have not been keen to try this level of modding even though it would give me exactly the LED i would like.

[@Nathan-uo9yf]

I have an older led flashlight that has sentimental value that the led started smoking, it’s a simple ui, being on or off, with a pressure switch in the tail cap. My question to you is, how do I find out what emitter would be compatible with my light? It’s a Sunlite Eagle 8WFP if that helps?

[@cheule]

You could try to ID the emitter using this thread: budgetlightforum.com/node/26665

[@SyntheticCompany]

Awesome video, thanks! I love the shoe trick, just used it on mine to get the glass out and applied some diffuser film (would love to swap in a 4500k 519A sometime).

[@cjb0326]

Great video. I know a fair bit about soldering but don't' know much about flashlights and emitters. How do you know what emitters will work with you light? I was thinking about re soldering a new emitter on my trusty Skilhunt H03 but don't know what emitters are compatible. Sidenote, I think a heatgun should work for removing and putting a new emitter on, if you don't have a hotplate but temp control might not be as good. Edit: How do you know which emitters are compatible swaps? AKA CREE XM-L2 -> ?? HI CRI

[@cheule]

If these two things are good, you’re usually good to go: emitter size and voltage. I’m this case I was swapping a 3V for 3V and an emitter size of 3535 for 3535. Another thing to consider is driver amps, but with an RRT01 it’s no problem since it caps out at ~3A.

[@multimargejta123]

I got dual channel Emisar D4V2 with SST20 6500K/2700K emitter combo. The 6500K emitters appear to be very very green tint. I will try to replace them with XP-L HD 6500K. Did you try to replace the emitters on D4V2? It looks quite complicated

[@cheule]

I have done several D4V2 swaps, and the aux board makes is significantly more complicated. More wires, smaller solder space. But doable if you’re seasoned at soldering.

[@jackanapes6676]

Could you exchange the emitter on an SC31 pro? I have the 5000K version and it has an awful green shade to it. I have an SP 35, and the tint is good, like sunlight. Don't know where Sofirn went wrong with the SC31 that I recieved.

[@cheule]

Almost all flashlights can be emitter swapped. I have no tried a SC31 pro yet, but I know someone who has done that model.

[@714SNF]

great vid, thx!

[@cheule]

Hope it helps you! I have a slightly newer swap video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6W6ZaBqap10Zsk

[@Redspeciality]

If you are interested, “Tech Ingredients”, the best channel on KZbin, IMO, has a video showing how to make the very best thermal paste you can get, among many other videos you’d probably like

[@IsraelMagalit]

Fantastic

[@maomao3593]

Cheule!!!

[@laurahunt7511]

Are you open to do some work on one of my lights ? Got an old convoy l2 I'd like to upgrade?

[@cheule]

Sorry for the slow reply, I don’t always keep up with my YT comment sections. Find me on r/flashlights as u/-cheule- and we can chat about it.

[@jimmyross1672]

LOL yeah i wnet to take off the bessil of my ASTROLUX EC03 and i axcidently ripped off the gell dome of the LEDs but the crazy part is the light still worked lol but the light was blue now because i D domes then by axcident lol but yeah i bought new XHP50.2 leds and replaced them so the light is back to normal lol but anyways thanks for making this type of video for people like me ill see you in the next one